Ave Spotlight

Episode 183: More Than a Houston Texans Fan with "Ultimate Fan" Steve Beckholt

January 19th, 2026  |  35 mins 42 secs

ave maria press, ave spotlight, catholic podcast, fathers teaching their sons to be faithful, football and faith, houston texans ultimate fan, living the catholic faith, steve beckholt

Oscar Rivera welcomes Steve Beckholt—a devout Catholic, Fourth Degree Knight of Columbus, and Houston Texans “Ultimate Fan”—for a conversation that blends football passion with fearless faith. From praying the Rosary for strength to standing by a team through criticism, Steve draws powerful parallels between lifelong fandom and steadfast devotion. This episode challenges listeners to live their faith boldly, lead their families by example, and remain rooted in Christ even when the noise gets loud.

Episode 179: The Table is Set (Thanksgiving Edition) with Tim Hanley

November 25th, 2025  |  37 mins

ave maria press, ave spotlight, catholic podcast, community, family, oscar rivera, thanksgiving, tim hanley, vocation

Oscar sits down with Tim Hanley, a restaurateur and former Franciscan brother to talk about what makes community truly come alive. Tim shares how his time with the CFRs shaped his understanding of simplicity, fraternity, and the priority of relationships over success. We dive into the heart behind his restaurant concepts—from Neapolitan pizza to a 90s hip-hop speakeasy—and how each space is designed to connect people in a disconnected world. Rooted in faith, Tim’s journey reveals how vocation, family, and food all point toward the same truth: we’re made for communion.

Episode 178: Faith, Freedom, and the Heart of Sacrifice: A Veterans Day Reflection with Oscar Rivera

November 10th, 2025  |  27 mins 8 secs

ave maria press, ave spotlight, catholic podcast, discipline, freedom, obedience, oscar rivera, sacrifice, service, u.s. military, veteran's day

In this Veterans Day episode, host Oscar Rivera pauses to honor and thank the men and women who serve our country in the armed forces. Oscar reflects on the themes of faith, discipline, obedience, and sacrifice—virtues shared by both a life in Christ and a life of military service. Drawing on the humility and trust of the Roman centurion in the Gospels, he explores how authentic freedom is always rooted in self-gift. Join us in praying in gratitude for all who serve and safeguard peace.

Episode 177: Focused Faith with ADHD with Teresa Violette

October 27th, 2025  |  48 mins 56 secs

adhd, ave maria press, ave spotlight, catholic podcast, catholicpsych institute, oscar rivera, podcast for the everyday catholic, teresa violette

Oscar Rivera welcomes Teresa Violette, Training Director at the CatholicPsych Institute, for an honest and hope-filled conversation about living with ADHD through a Catholic lens. Teresa shares her story of being diagnosed as an adult and reflects on the misconceptions around ADHD—why it’s more than just “not paying attention,” and how even the name might need a rethink. Together, they discuss the challenges of executive functioning, the struggle to stay focused in prayer, and the beauty of seeing one’s unique wiring as a gift from God. Discover how God works powerfully in our scattered moments and uses even our imperfect focus to draw us closer to him.

Episode 156: Kickstart the New Year with Humility, Resilience, and Discipline with Alex Gotay

January 6th, 2025  |  33 mins 56 secs

alex gotay, ave maria press, ave spotlight, catholic podcast, discipline, faith, new year's resolutions, oscar rivera, podcast for the everyday catholic, spiritual growth, the six triple eight

Step into 2025 with renewed purpose! In this episode, Alex Gotay—Catholic speaker, Marine, and 4th Degree Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu instructor—explores how resilience, humility, and discipline can transform your life. Drawing inspiration from the WWII film The Six Triple Eight, Alex unpacks why resolutions often fail and how perseverance shapes character. Discover how Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu goes beyond self-defense, offering lessons in faith, discipline, and spiritual growth. This powerful conversation blends faith, fitness, and fortitude to inspire growth in mind, body, and spirit for the year ahead.

As you listen, reflect on your own resolutions: How can you incorporate humility, resilience, and faith into your journey this year?

Episode 150: Lion’s, Springboks, and Womanhood: Balance of Strength and Grace with Katie Hartfiel

October 11th, 2024  |  24 mins 14 secs

ave maria press, ave spotlight, catholic podcast, dignity of women, example of mary, katie hartfiel, oscar rivera, podcast for everyday catholics, womanhood

In today’s episode, we dive into the powerful and mesmerizing springbok—an emblem of both strength and grace. Joined by Katie Hartfiel, we explore how the dignity of womanhood is rooted in the ability to embrace this balance. Through the example of Mary, the mother of God, we discuss how embodying both strength and grace enriches not only a woman's identity but society as a whole. Together, we’ll unpack the importance of recognizing and valuing these two, Tune in for a thought-provoking conversation on the essential role women play when they embrace their full potential.

Episode 139: Sparking Faith in the Hearts of Teens: Sacred Encounter with Fr. Tim Anastos

February 26th, 2024  |  23 mins 20 secs

ave maria press, ave spotlight, catholic podcast, chenele shaw, fr. tim anastos, helping teens grow in their faith, jesus, make me fully alive, sparking faith in the hearts of teens

In this second episode of our Ignite series, we delve into the transformative impact of spending time with our Eucharistic Lord on the faith journey of Catholic teens. Fr. Tim Anastos shares his vocation story and practical ways for young people to engage in adoration. Join us as we explore the profound influence of Jesus' Eucharistic presence on the hearts of youth!

Episode 116: True Grit: Being a Man of Virtue with Paul George

April 3rd, 2023  |  19 mins 2 secs

ave maria press, ave spotlight, be a catholic man of virtue, catholic podcast, chenele shaw, holy grit, paul george, podcast for the everyday catholic, rethink happiness

What does it mean to be a man of virtue? This week Chenele and author and Catholic life coach Paul George talk about virtue, the saints, and how men are made for holy grit. George’s new book, Holy Grit, looks at some of the tough issues facing men today—struggles in marriage, parenting, suffering, and finding purpose—to determine areas for growth and take steps toward living the life for which God created men.

Episode 107: Faith in the Unexpected with Allison Gingras

November 28th, 2022  |  26 mins 17 secs

allison gingras, ave maria press, ave spotlight, catholic podcast, chenele shaw, encountering signs of faith, sacramentals

Allison Gingras, author of Encountering Signs of Faith, shares the story of how her daughter's adoption helped her trust and encounter the Lord. Allison and Chenele also talk about sacramentals and how they help us to learn about the faith in unexpected ways.

Episode 101: Giving Thanks and Letting Go with Danielle Bean

September 6th, 2022  |  25 mins 23 secs

ave maria press, ave spotlight, catholic podcast, chenele shaw, danielle bean, giving thanks and letting go

Danielle Bean joins Chenele to talk about sending your child to college, supporting their independence, and parental paranoia. Danielle shares her personal testimony of trusting God, and what she would tell her younger self.